COVID-19 vaccination: Lagos to prioritise health workers, petrol attendants, others (Punch)
As Nigeria began its COVID-19 vaccination programme, the Lagos State Primary Health Care Board, on Monday, listed priority persons to receive jabs of the vaccine in the first phase of the vaccination programme.
The agency, in a statement titled, ‘Covid-19 Vaccination In Lagos State’, said the vaccination will be done in four phases in consonance with the Federal Government plan.
The statement partly read, “The vaccine will be conducted in four phases until all eligible persons are vaccinated as more vaccines become available. Read more
FRSC dedicates 2021 International Women’s Day to Late Tolulope Arotile (Guardian)
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has dedicated the 2021 International Women’s Day celebration to the Late Tolulope Arotile of the Nigerian Air Force for her heroism and selfless service to the nation.
FRSC Lagos Sector Commander, Olusegun Ogungbemide, disclosed this during the commemoration of the 2021 International Women’s Day in Lagos on Monday.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Theme of the 2021 International Women’s Day Celebration was “Women in Leadership: Achieving an Equal Future in COVID-19 World (Choose to Change).
Ogungbemide said Arotile’s dedication while in service showed that what a man can do, a woman can do it better.
The FRSC official added that until her death as a flying officer, Arotile contributed significantly to combat operations against insecurity in the Northern part of the country. Read more
COVID-19: Lagos CP redeploys DPO, senior officers (Punch)
The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, CP Hakeem Odumosu, has redeployed a Divisional Police Officer and some senior officers for allowing night clubbing in their area.
The DPO of the Ajao Estate Division and the officers were redeployed for allowing club activity at Garbana Club on Sunday.
According to the Police Public Relations Officer, Adejobi Olumuyiwa, 41 persons were arrested at the club by the Lagos Police Command. Read more
IWD: TUC seeks end to gender violence against women (Leadership)
The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has urged women to take advantage of the International Women’s Day (IWD) to challenge all forms of inequalities perpetrated against them.
Speaking during the 2021 IWD celebration organised by the TUC, comrade, Shaibu Afusatu, the Chairperson of the TUC Women Commission, said the earlier we stop paying lip service to issues of gender inequality and injustices against them, the better.
She said the world must urgently transform and redistribute power, to safeguard our future and planet.
She said, “it is very important to mention that the International Women’s Day is powered by the collective efforts of all. It is a day to celebrate the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women, therefore the theme for this year is “Women in Leadership: Achieving An Equal Future In a COVID-19 World, #ChooseToChallenge”. Read more
Kwara Hijab Imbroglio: Government shuts affected schools indefinitely (Vanguard)
Following irreconcilable differences between Kwara state government, and Christian schools in the state over wearing of Hijab to schools by Muslim students in their schools, which should take off today, the government in the wee hours of Monday announced the postponement of their resumption until a later date.
At the last count, the Baptist Church which has about 23 schools scattered in the state, ECWA, and Cherubim and Seraphim have all stuck to their guns that they will resist their Muslim pupils to wear hijab to their schools and further demanded the return of their schools by the government.
The current Hijab controversy was blew opened penultimate Thursday evening, after series of consultations with stakeholders, when Kwara state government approved that interested Muslim students attending Christian public schools in the state can be wearing Hijab to schools, stressing that the government affirms the right of every child in public schools to freedom of worship.
It, therefore, directed the ten public schools that were hitherto closed in the wake of protests over the religion controversy to be reopened.
The government further directed the Ministry of Education and Human Capital Development to come up with a uniform hijab for all public/ grant-aided schools, which will be the accepted mode of head covering in schools. Read more
Court restrains Wale Adenuga from producing Village Headmaster series (Tribune)
Justice Mohammed Liman of the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has granted a restraining order against Wale Adenuga Production Limited and its Chief Executive Officer, Chief Wale Adenuga, stopping them from producing or publishing a television series, the Village Headmaster, pending the hearing of an interlocutory injunction filed against the company and its owner before the court. Read more
Aisha Buhari breaks silence, laments continued abduction of women, girls (Tribune)
The First Lady, Mrs Aisha Buhari, has broken her long silence to express sorrow at the continued abduction of women and girls by insurgents and bandits in the country.
In a message she released to mark the 2021 edition of International Women’s Day on Monday, she said that she is not unaware of the impact the action has on reversing the gains already made on girl child education.
She stated: “Away from COVID-19, women and girls in Nigeria have continued to suffer abductions both in the hands of insurgents and bandits.
“As a mother, I share the sorrow and agony of the victims and their families. I am also not unaware of the impact that these abductions could have in reverting many successes we have hitherto achieved, especially in terms of girl-child education and early marriages. Read more
PTF chairman, others take COVID-19 vaccine (Punch)
The chairman of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, Boss Mustapha, on Monday led other members of the task force and journalists covering its activities to take the COVID-19 vaccine publicly.
They took the vaccine during the weekly press briefing of the task force in Abuja.
Mustapha, who is also the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, took his first dose at about 5.05pm.
Shortly after the SGF was vaccinated, the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, took his turn. Read more
Women’s day: Mexico barrier turned into women’s memorial (BBC)
Fencing erected to protect Mexico’s National Palace ahead of a planned march to mark International Women’s Day has been turned into a memorial.
The names of hundreds of victims of femicides – murders of women because of their gender – have been painted on the metal fencing.
The three-metre-high (9.8ft) barrier was put up to protect the palace “from vandalism”, the government said.
Women’s groups say the government does not do enough to combat femicides. Read more
Rallies across Asia kick off International Women’s Day (France24)
Thousands of women from Yangon to New Delhi marched Monday in defiance of power-grabbing generals and patriarchal governments, as rallies across Asia kicked off a global day of action for International Women’s Day.
Crowds of women in brightly coloured saris thronged the outskirts of India’s capital, where they joined forces with a months-long protest against agricultural reforms that has rocked the country.
Many were not in masks and did not observe social distancing, despite India having one of Asia’s highest coronavirus infection and death rates.
“Our women, sisters, everyone are going to be the biggest contributors to this protest,” Kulwinder Kaur, from the northern state of Punjab told AFP as women farmers addressed the rally from makeshift platforms. Read more
International Women’s Day marked with increased hardships for women (VOA)
For more than 100 years, International Women’s Day has been celebrated by honoring the achievements of women globally.
But this year, because of lost jobs and increased burdens of care at home, women have fared worse economically than men.
According to data from the International Labour Organization, a United Nations agency, globally women have suffered more job losses related to the pandemic than men. About 5% of women in 2020 lost work, which could mean losing a job or experiencing reduced hours, compared with 3.9% of men. Read more
Millions return to class as England reopens schools after virus lockdown (France24)
Millions of English children headed back to school on Monday after their second extended stretch of home learning because of a strict national lockdown to slow the spread of Covid-19.
The reopening of English schools to all pupils is the first step in a four-stage government plan to ease the lockdown while trying to prevent a new surge in infections after a devastating winter wave that severely strained hospitals.
Since the start of the pandemic, Britain has recorded 124,500 deaths within 28 days of a positive Covid-19 test, the fifth highest official death toll in the world and the worst in Europe.
For adults in England, the lockdown remains in force, with social contact severely restricted, people under orders to stay at home except for essential reasons, most shops closed, and cafés and restaurants able to offer only takeaway or delivery. Read more
Burger King tweets ‘women belong in the kitchen’ on International Women’s Day (Metro)
Burger King has been criticised for tweeting ‘women belong in the kitchen’ on International Women’s Day. The fast food giant followed up its initial tweet with another one underneath in a thread: ‘If they want to, of course. Yet only 20% of chefs are women. ‘We’re on a mission to change the gender ratio in the restaurant industry by empowering female employees with the opportunity to pursue a culinary career. ‘We are proud to be launching a new scholarship programme which will help female Burger King employees pursue their culinary dreams!’ Read more
Grammy performers for 2021 finally revealed: See who’s playing the show (NYPost)
Here we go: Yet another awards show-concert to watch on your couch at home.
On Sunday, the Grammys announced its lineup of performers for the 2021 show, which is set to air March 14 at 8 p.m. on CBS, hosted by Trevor Noah. The long list includes Bad Bunny, Black Pumas, Cardi B, BTS, Brandi Carlile, DaBaby, Doja Cat, Billie Eilish, Mickey Guyton, Haim, Brittany Howard, Miranda Lambert, Lil Baby, Dua Lipa, Chris Martin, John Mayer, Megan Thee Stallion, Maren Morris, Post Malone, Roddy Ricch, Harry Styles and Taylor Swift.
Among the performers, Dua Lipa, Roddy Ricch and Taylor Swift are also nominated for awards with six nods each. Read more
Senegalese opposition leader’s supporters call for three days of protests (France24)
Supporters of Senegalese opposition leader Ousmane Sonko have called for three more days of protests starting Monday following violent demonstrations last week that threatened to erode the country’s reputation as one of West Africa’s most stable democracies.
Five people, including a schoolboy, have been killed in days of clashes sparked by the arrest, the worst violence in years in a country usually seen as a beacon of stability in a volatile region.
Sonko appeared before the court in Dakar on Monday to answer questions about a rape charge, which he said was politically motivated, and was then released under judicial supervision, his lawyer told FRANCE 24.
Schools in the capital have been ordered closed for a week, as the political opposition has called for three more days of protests beginning Monday. Read more
Meet Zinhle Ndawonde the rugby playing firefighter (BBC)
Zinhle Ndawonde not only plays international women’s rugby for South Africa but she combines that with working as a firefighter at the Durban International Airport.
The 31-year-old has been doing both since 2013 but admits that it was not a job that she had ever imagined doing.
“It wasn’t my ideal job honestly but I needed money to take care of the family,” she told BBC Sport Africa.
“Being the first born at home and having to look after my mum and my sister, I realised I needed a job because obviously, as much as I was playing rugby, I needed an income.
“That’s when I saw firefighter post at Durban International Airport so I applied and then passed.” Read more
Osimhen scores as Napoli beat Bologna 3-1 (Punch)
Victor Osimhen marked his return from a head injury with a goal and an assist in Napoli’s 3-1 win over Bologna in a Serie A clash on Sunday, The PUNCH reports.
It was his third league goal for the club in 11 appearances since he joined the club last summer from Lille for a club-record €70m.
The 22-year-old, who came on for Dries Mertens in the 53rd minute, doubled his side’s lead after Lorenzo Insigne had put the hosts ahead after eight minutes.
Osimhen latched on to a pass from Piotr Zielinski from midfield and out-sprinted Bologna’s defender Danilo before slotting home his first goal for the club in seven months. Read more
CAS reduces Ahmad’s football ban to two years (Guardian)
The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) on Monday announced that former African football boss Ahmad Ahmad’s five-year ban imposed by FIFA has been reduced to two years, just days before the CAF presidential elections.
The decision ends any hopes the Malagasy had of running for another term as the Confederation of African Football (CAF) president.
CAS found him guilty of ethical violations including the “distribution of gifts” and “misappropriation of funds”.
Ahmad was also accused of using CAF money to invite presidents of some national federations on a pilgrimage to Mecca, which was “not directly related to football”. Read more
Women’s Bundesliga roundup: Bayer Leverkusen on the march (DW)
The women’s Bundesliga table isn’t always the most surprising; most of the time, it’s the same teams in the title race.
But this week, it’s a little different, with Bayer Leverkusen sitting fourth with 23 points after 14 games. This weekend, the team secured a dominant and impressive 4-2 victory over Turbine Potsdam, thanks in part to a hat trick from top scorer Milena Nikolic, who now has 10 goals in 13 games.
Bayer Leverkusen may be a big name in men’s football, but the women’s team has often failed to unleash its full potential in the past. Introduced back in 2008 after taking over nearby sports club TuS Köln, it has only been established in the Bundesliga since 2018, albeit usually in a relegation battle rather than challenging at the top. Read more
NBA All-Star Game: Giannis Antetokounmpo MVP as Team LeBron beat Team Durant 170-150 (BBC)
If there is a time to shoot a perfect record, the NBA All-Star game is it – and Giannis Antetokounmpo did just that.
His 16-for-16, including a 3-for-3 on three-pointers saw him finish with a game-high 35 points – and the Kobe Bryant Most Valuable Player (MVP) award – as Team LeBron defeated Team Durant 170-150 in the annual exhibition game.
But this was an All-Star game like no other. In the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, there was barely a crowd, no front-row celebrities, to witness the magic unfold in person at Atlanta’s State Farm Arena. Read more
Joan Laporta reveals message from Lionel Messi after being elected Barcelona president (Metro)Newly elected Barcelona president Joan Laporta has revealed he has already received a message of congratulations from Lionel Messi and has vowed to keep the Argentine at the club. The Catalan club’s members turned out in massive numbers on Sunday to vote for their new president, with even first-team players such as Messi, Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets spotted at Camp Nou to cast their votes. After a fiercely contested battle, it was Laporta – who had a previous reign in charge between 2003 and 2010 in which time the club won 12 trophies – who came out on top with 54% of the vote. Read more